portastatic

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Wednesday's Stack

Doug Martsch - Now You Know i hope doug makes another solo record sometime, this one is lovelyPhil Manzanera - Diamond Head awesome record, especially the songs that Eno sings...also appearing on this album are Robert Wyatt, Andy Mackay, John Wetton (all you Asia fans will love this record)SM & Jicks - Real Emotional Trash "Gardenia" is my current fave on here, but it changes; my favorite post-Paver Malkmus yetJohn Coltrane - Complete Africa BrassSmall Faces - Odds and ModsCorrina Repp - The Absent and the Distant we played a show with Corrina at the end of the last full-band Portastatic tour & she was great...the album has a unique ambience.Mission of Burma - Vinyl Reissues Matador had done an insane job with these reissues, particularly the LP editions...monumental like the albums.

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Too Many Notes

too many bands, too many shows, too many bars, too much of everything! actually, just the right amount of tacos, but too much of everything else, that's how i feel leaving SXSW each year. the Merge artists all worked hard all week and played great shows, the Merge night at the Parish being a highlight of course (w/ Destroyer, She & Him, Shout Out Louds, Radar Bros., Wye Oak), but there were some other fine moments -- i know you won't believe me, but the English Beat was one of the best things i saw all week, and Other Music's outdoor parties at the French Legation Museum with Yo La Tengo, Chris Brokaw solo and others, was the best place to feel like you weren't even at the dirty drunkfest for a few minutes.

Portastatic sets from what i can remember:

afternoon show at Other Music party:At the Crossroads (Doug Sahm)You Know Where to Find MeYou BlanksRunning WaterSan AndreasWhen Love Breaks Down (Prefab Sprout)AmarilloSong for A ClockJosephine (Magnetic Fields)

check the video diary at w/ "You Know Where to Find Me" at the Other Music site.

i opened the night at the Parish, a set marred slightly by the fact that i wrote songs down on the setlist that i hadn't played in a long time thinking that i knew them regardless (I Wanna Know Girls, not so much):

At the CrossroadsAngels of SleepCheers and ApplauseImpolite CheersA Cunning LatchAmarilloSan AndreasIsn't That the WayI Wanna Know GirlsSong for A Clock

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

a bit South, mostly West

i'm heading to Austin at the end of the week, Merge night is friday at the Parish, where i'll be opening the evening with a solo Portastatic set. i'll also be playing solo earlier in the day at 3 PM at the Other Music show at the French Legation. Yo La Tengo, Chris Brokaw & other fine artists also on that bill, and they'll be posting video footage of the sets on their site.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Vote!

not in your state's primary, though you should do that too i suppose, but in a contest that's nearly as important: "Clash of the Cover Songs" over at Spinner where they've got the original Hot Chip version of "Boy From School" versus my cover of the same song...i voted for Hot Chip, who's new record is really growing on me as well.